Interpretive Summary: Maturity (degree of fiber development) and fineness (fiber size) are important cotton fiber quality and processing properties. Most maturity and fineness measurements are slow, laborious, require chemicals, and/or require expensive instruments. The Cottonscope is a small-footprint instrument that measures maturity and fineness in water using polarized light microscopy and image analysis. Cottonscope measurements were rapid, precise, accurate, and easy to perform. The Cottonscope results were compared to other maturity and fineness techniques. Very good agreement was observed between the Cottonscope and the other techniques and to micronaire. Operational and environmental impacts were studied. Cottonscope average and distribution measurements have also been used on developing and mature fibers to monitor cell wall development and fiber growth parameters.

Technical Abstract:
Maturity (degree of secondary wall development) and fineness (linear density) are important cotton fiber quality and processing properties. Most maturity and fineness measurements are slow, laborious, require chemicals, and/or require expensive instruments. The Cottonscope is a small-footprint instrument that measures maturity and fineness in water using polarized light microscopy and image analysis. Cottonscope measurements were rapid, precise, accurate, and easy to perform. The Cottonscope results were compared to other maturity and fineness techniques. Very good agreement was observed between the Cottonscope and the other techniques and to HVI micronaire. Operational and environmental impacts were studied. Cottonscope average and distribution measurements have also been used on developing and mature fibers to monitor cell wall development and fiber growth parameters.